Charles a



(No Model.)

(LA. BOWEN.

v PIVOTAL'AXLE, &c.

y No.' 508,499. -Pauw-,ed Nov. 14, 189s.A

me ATlcNAL Lrruoann Hmm coMPANY UNITED STATES atelier -nrrcm CHARLES A.BOWEN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AKRON TOOL COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

PIVOTAL AXLE, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,499, dated November14, 1893.' Application tiled October 4l 1892. Serial No. 447813. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-II, CHARLES A. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pivotal Axles forAgricultural Implements, of which the following is a specication. K

My invention has relationto improvements in that class of pivotal axlesusedon wheel cultivators. Y Y

Ordinarily the foot-lever by which the axles are rocked is attached by acollar to the bottom of the vertical member4 of the axle, and

the cross-beam of the carriage rests on this.VV

This construction is objectionable for two reasons; first because theweight of the carriage rests on a broad annular base, and thus causes agreat amount-of friction, requiring great force to be exerted by therider in rocking the axles5'second the low location of the foot-leversprevents the proper elevation of the gangs.

The object of my invention is-to overcome these objections by sustainingthe carriage upon a pivotal point so as to reduce the frictional surfaceto a minimum, and by connecting the foot-levers by a peculiararrangement of parts, at the upper ends of vertical members of the axle;and my further object is to provide self centering boxes for saidvertical members.

I attain these objects by my improvement, which consists in the peculiarand novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and then specifically pointed out inthe claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numeralsindicate like parts in the differentl figures, Figure 1, is a frontelevation of one end of the cross beam of the carriage, and a part ofthe axle, with the rocking bar in section, illustrating my invention;`

Figs. 4 and 5, a plan and side elevation of the' box for the verticalmember of the axle; and Fig. 6, an elevation of the pivot bolt.

Referring to the drawings, l is a part of the cross beam of thecarriage, Which is preferably of I form in section, and has its endscurved downward as shown.

In boxes 2, attached to the dependent end of the beam 1, is journaledthe vertical member 3, ofthe pivotal axle, its other member 4, extendinghorizontally to receive the vehicle wheel. The boxes 2, each embody abase having a projecting lug arranged to enter a corresponding orificein the beam l, and a cap arranged to fit on the base, and be retained bybolts, the contiguous faces of the parts being provided with tongue andgroove respectively.

Attached to the upper portion of the vertical member 3, of the axle, isa rocking bar 5, by which the axle may be rocked in its boxes, the outerend of which bar extend-s forwardand is connected with a cross-bar 6,the opposite end of which is pivotally attached to the end of therocking bar of the other axle, to enable both axles to be rocked inunison.

Through a suitable opening in the cross beam l, and vertically above themember 3, of the axle, is inserted a bolt 7, retained by nuts, andhaving a lower conical point, whichV rests `in a'corresponding conicalseat in the upper end of the Vertical member 3; and snstains the Weightof the cross beam and the parts of the carriage that rest thereon.

Attached to the forward end of the rocking bar 5, by a bolt, and also bya pivotal bolt by which said bar is attached to the cross-bar 6, is thefoot-lever 8, which is bent diagonally toward the center of the vehicle,and downward, and-terminates in a suitable foot rest. By thisarrangement, the weight of the carriage rests on two pivots, Wherebyaminimum of friction is secured; and the foot lever being attached to theforward end of the rocking lever leaves a greater amount'rof space forthe elevation of the gangs than if attached directly to the lower end ofthe vertical member of the axle.

I claim as my invention-- 1.' The vcombination with the cross-beam, andthe axle having its vertical member jourvnaled in the depending end ofsaid beam, of

a bolt fastened in said beam, and having its end pointed and resting ina corresponding IOO seat in the upper end of the vertical member of theaxle, as set forth.

2. The cross-beam and the pivotal axle jou rnaled in the depending endthereof, and the pointed bolt fastened in said beam and having its endresting on the end of the vertical member of said axle, and -the rockinglever attached to the upper end of said axle, combined with thefoot-lever connected with the outer end of said rocking lever, andextending backward and downward, substantially as shown and described.

3. The cross-bar, I-shaped in cross-section, with downward-turned endsand apertures to receive the box-l ugs; andthe pivotal axles ar- 15CHAS. A. BOWEN.

In presence oli- C. P. I-IUMPHREY, GEO. M. WRIGHT.

